Bulk carrier



E. A. SWIFT BULK CARRIER March '18, 1969 I of :5

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I ll 3,433,401 Patented Mar. 18, 1969 ice 3,433,401 BULK CARRIER EdgarA. Swift, Paxton, Mass., assignor to Owens- Illinois, Inc., acorporation of Ohio Filed June 19, 1967, Ser. No. 646,851 US. Cl.229--15 Int. Cl. 865d /48, 81/00, 5/02 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE This invention relates to an improved box-type container andmore particularly, to a novel compartmented corrugated shipping andstoring container which is suitable for holding free flowing bulkcommodities in granular, pellet, or powder form. Free flowing bulkcommodities, such as coffee beans, exert a substantial force on thewalls and bottom structure of their container. Consequently,

it is necessary that such containers have substantial structuralstrength. Additionally, leakage of the bulk product through the bottomand side wall joints of these boxtype containers often causes problemsin shipping and storing filled containers. These problems areparticularly acute when these bulk containers are to be collapsed orknocked down, reassembled and re-used. For the above, and other reasons,many bulk materials such as flour, pelletized chemicals, coffee beans,grain and the like, have been shipped in non-collapsible fibreboard ormetal containers. It is apparent that substantial savings could berealized if collapsible, reuseable flbreboard containers could be usedto achieve these purposes.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a novelbulk shipping and storage container for bulk commodities.

Another object is to provide a large collapsible, corrugated box tofunction as a bulk carrier, the corrugated box being formed in sections,whereby the strength is increased.

A still further object is to provide a corrugated compartmentalized bulkbox having a novel sidewall construction with increased stackingstrength.

Yet another object is to provide a novel collapsible, twin cell bulk boxhaving a sidewall construction of superior stacking strength, said boxhaving an interlocking base that is resistant to product leakage.

The above as well as other objects, features and advantages of thepresent invention will be more clearly understood by reference to thefollowing detailed description and drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 generally designates plan view of the cut and scored blanksused in forming the bulk carrier.

FIG. 1A is a plan view of the cut and scored blank utilized in makingone embodiment of the lid or cover of the container.

FIG. 1B is a plan view of the cut and scored blank utilized in makingthe tubular body portions or cells of the container.

FIG. 1C is a plan view of the cut and scored blank utilized in makingthe base or bottom of the container; as described below, this blank canalso be used in forming the cover.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view looking up at the partially folded blank ofFIG. 1A.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the tubular body portion of FIG. 1B inpartially folded condition.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view looking down on the blank of FIG. 1C in apartially folded state.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the twin cell tubular body portionspreparatory to being nested in interlocking relation with the base; thecover or lid preparatory to being telescoped over the upper flaps of thetubular body portions is also shown. FIG. 5 is subdivided into FIGS. 5A,5B and 5C corresponding to A, B and C of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the assembled bulk box.

FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view of the assembled box taken in thedirection of arrows 77 in FIG. 6.

The component parts of the bulk carrier of the invention are generallyillustrated in FIG. 1. The bulk box is generally designated as 10 inFIGS. 6 and 7. The bulk box 10 is formed from a base, generallydesignated by number 11. In the preferred embodiments, two upstandingtubes or cells 12 are nested in interlocking relationship in the base11, although it will be apparent that the invention includes a pair ofside by side cells of the type hereinafter described nested in aconventional, non-interlocking base. A cover or lid 13 is telescopedover the top of the cells. The bulk box 10 is of generally rectangularconfiguration for convenience in storage and handling.

The base 11 is folded from a flat, precut and scored blank of relativelyrigid sheet like material, such as corrugated fibreboard, as shown inFIGS. 1C, 4 and 5C. This blank includes a rectangular central panel 14which is of the same size and configuration as the bottom defined byplacing two cell portions side by side. Four integral, primary flaps 15,16, 17 and 18 are foldably secured to the edges of this rectangularcentral panel. Flaps and 17 are attached to an opposed pair of edges ofpanel 14 and each has a secondary flap 20 and 21 foldably joined theretoat double score lines 22 and 23. Double score lines 22 and 23 are usedso as to provide a small spacing between the primary flaps 15 and 17,and secondary flaps 20 and 21.

Flaps 16 and 18 are attached to the other opposed pair of edges of panel14 and each has an interlocking tab and 24 respectively, foldablyattached to the terminal edge thereof. These interlocking tabs 24 and 25are dimensionally shorter in width than the primary flaps 16 and 18. Thereason for this will be described below. Each of the primary flaps 16and 18 also have a pair of integral extension flaps 26 and 27respectively, foldably secured thereto along the opposed end edges offlaps 16 and 18, and adjacent to flaps 15 and 17.

FIG. 4 illustrates the partially folded base and FIG. 5 shows thefinished base. Flaps 16 and 18 are folded at right angles to the basecentral panel 14, with the two pairs of flaps 26 and 27 extending atright angles to the flaps 16 and 18, and to the base panel 14. The flaps15 and 17 are then folded at right angles with the base panel 14. Theflaps 20 and 21 are folded generally parallel to flaps 15 and 17, intooverlapping relation with respect to the two pairs of flaps 26 and 27 asis best shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The interlocking tabs 24 and 25 are thenfolded inwardly and downwardly so as to be generally parallel to flaps16 and 18 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5C. The finished base is then in theform of a shallow tray having an upstanding peripheral flange formed bythe folded flaps, with a pair of interlocking tabs attached to the topedges of opposing faces of the flange. The base can also be of a designsimilar to the cover or lid design shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 5 and 7. This isa conventional design and does not include the interlocking tabs 24 and25. When this type of base is used the two tubular body 0 portions arenested but not interlocked in the base.

The construction of the tubular body portions is shown in FIGS. 1B, 3and 5B. As best shown in FIG. 1, the

tubular body blank which may also be formed from corrugated fibreboard,includes a side wall panel 28, a rear wall panel 29, side wall panel 30and a front wall panel 31 connected together along parallel fold lines32, 33 and 34. A reinforcing panel 35 is connected to the panel 31 alongthe fold line 36 parallel to the fold lines 32, 33 and 34. The panel 28in the assembled form as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5B, underlies thereinforcing panel 35 so as to form a side wall panel of doublethickness.

Panels 28, 29, 30 and 31 have integral foldable flaps 28a, 28b; 29a 29b;30a, 30b; and 31a, 31b respectively, attached thereto along the upperand lower panel edges. These flaps fold inwardly and at right angles totheir respective panels when the body portion is in the assembledcondition as shown in FIG. 3 and 5B. This design provides increasedlateral structural stability.

The reinforcing panel 35 has interlocking flaps 35a and 35b foldablyconnected thereto along the upper and lower panel edges. These tabs, 35aand 3612, fold outwardly and extend generally parallel to the exteriorface of the panel 35 as shown in FIGS. 3, 5B and 7.

T form the twin cell bulk box, two of these tubularbody-portionsdescribed above are folded and nested side by side in the base 11, withthe double thickness side wall panels facing outwardly as shown in FIG.3, B and 7. This provides three walls of double thickness for increasedvertical structural strength as shown in FIG. 7.

The interlocking tabs 24 and of the base 11 interlock in abuttingrelation with the reinforcing panel flaps b to secure each of the cellsin position within the base as shown in FIG. 7. The interlocking of thebase with cells is achieved by designing the height of flap 16 (and 18)to be approximately equal to the sum of the height of tab 25 (and 24)plus the height of flap 35b. The cells are shown interlocked in the basein FIG. 7. When the base employed is the conventional open topped,noninterlocking type (i.e., similar to the cover design shown in FIGS.1, 2, 5 and 7) the twin cell bulk box is similarly formed by nesting twoof the four sided, five panel, tubular body portions side by side so asto form three double thickness vertical walls.

One embodiment of the cover or lid 13 which may be formed from a blankof corrugated fibreboard, is shown in FIGS. 1A, 2, 5A and 7. This lidincludes a rectangular central panel 37 which is of the same size andconfiguration as the opening defined by two cells in side by siderelation. Along the four edges of the central panel 37 there is provideda series of flaps 38, 39, and 41. Flaps 39 and 41 are of similar designand each has a secondary flap 42 and 43 respectively, foldably attachedthereto along double score lines 42a and 43a. Double score lines areused so as to provide a small spacing between the primary fiaps 39 and41; and then secondary flaps 42 and 43 respectively. Flaps 38 and 40 arealso of similar design and are each provided with a pair of extensionflaps 44 and extending from the flap edges adjacent to flaps 39 and 41.As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 5A, flaps 38 and 40 are folded at rightangles to the cover central panel 37 and extension flaps 44 and 45 arethen folded at right angles to both the cover central panel 37 and theflaps 38 and 40. The secondary flaps 42 and 43 are then folded parallelto flaps 39 and 41 and in overlaying relation to flaps 44 and 45 to formthe cover structure as shown in FIG. 2 and 5A. This cover thentelescopes over the tubular body portions as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, andis held snugly in place by the flaps 35a. It is understood that anytray-like cover means having a peripheral flange can be telescoped overthe two cells in this manner.

In an alternative embodiment, the cover can be identical to the basestructure shown in FIGS. 1C, 4 and 5C. In this embodiment then, both thecover and base are interlocking.

It will be apparent that the present bulk carrier is designed for easeof handling and ease of construction as well as economy of use. Thedesign also minimizes side wall bulging while increasing verticalstructural strength so that a number of the bulk boxes can be stacked ina column.

The bulk box is also easily collapsed or knocked down for convenience inshipping and storing while empty.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that while the describedinvention is particularly applicable to corrugated boxes it can beapplied to boxes formed from any foldable sheet material such as solidfibreboard, folding boxboard and other grades of paperboard, any of thewell-known thermoplastics, for example, polystyrene, polyethylene orpolyvinyl chloride, or foil fibre laminates.

Other modifications of this invention will be obvious to those skilledin the art which do not depart from the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A multiple compartment container comprising in combination:

an open topped base formed from a unitary sheet of relatively rigidsheet like material comprising a rectangular central panel and anupstanding peripheral flange surrounding said central panel, said flangehaving downwardly and inwardly projecting tabs foldably secured to atleast two of the top edges of opposing faces of said flange; and

two tubular compartment defining members having abutting vertical faces,and nested and interlocked in said base so as to form three verticalpanels of double thickness, each of said members comprising a series offour panels and a reinforcing panel foldably joined together, saidreinforcing panel being arranged in overlapping relation with the firstpanel of the series to form one of said double thickness panels,

said reinforcing panel including an upwardly and outwardly projectingflap, foldably joined to the nesting edge of said panel, and positionedin abutting, interlocking relation with said tab.

2. The container of claim 1 and further comprising closure means havinga peripheral flange telescoping over the opening defined by the twotubular compartment defining members.

3. The container of claim 2, wherein each of said four panels isprovided with two integral, foldable flaps, one of said two flapspositioned along the upper panel edge and the other of said two flapspositioned along the lower panel edge, said two flaps being foldedinwardly and at right angles to their respective panels.

4. The container of claim 3, wherein said reinforcing panel is providedwith a downwardly and outwardly projecting flap foldably joined to theedge of said panel and snugly engaging the peripheral flange of saidtelescoping closure means.

5. The container of claim 4, wherein the telescoping flange of saidclosure means is provided with upwardly and inwardly projecting tabfoldably secured to at least two of the lower edges of opposing faces ofsaid flange, and positioned in interlocking, abutting relation with saiddownwardly and outwardly projecting reinforcing panel flap.

6. In combination, a two cell fibreboard container comprising:

a rectangular base having an upstanding peripheral flange integrallyconnected thereto, said flange having downwardly and inwardly projectingtabs foldably secured to two of the top edges of opposing faces of saidflange,

two upstanding individual compartment defining,rectangular-cross-sectional, tubular members having open upper and lowerends with said members being seated with vertical panels abutting toform three vertical panels of double thickness and interlocked in saidbase, each of said tubular members comprising a series of four panelsand a reinforcing panel 5 6 foldably joined together, said reinforcingpanel be panel edge, said two flaps being folded inwardly and at ingarranged in overlapping relation with the first right angles to theirrespective panels. panel of the series to form one of said panels ofdouble thickness, said reinforcing panel including References Cited anupwardly and outwardly projecting flap foldably 5 UNITED STATES PATENTSjoined to the lower edge of said panel and positioned in abutting,interlocking relation with said tabs, and 2:2 3} 229 37 closure meanstelescoped over the opening defined by said two tubular members.3,185,379 5/1965 Kohlhass 229-15 X 7. The container of claim 6, whereineach of said four 10 DAVID BOCKENEK Primary Examiner. panels is providedwith two integral, foldable flaps, one

of said two flaps positioned along the upper panel edge US. Cl. X.R. andthe other of said two flaps positioned along the lower 22937

